The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-04-16
LIQUOR DRINKING.
Less of >pirtuous Beverages and More of
Wine and Beer Drank.

Les. of spirtuous beverages and More of
Wine and Beer Drank.
WASHISGTON, April 14.-Twenty or
more pages of the quarterly report of the
Chief of the Bureau of Statistics (lust
OUT are devoted To the consumption of
distilled and malt liquors and wines. and
the estimates made by recognized au
thOrities are given upon various features
of this subject. In round numbers the
consumption of distilled spirits. domeS-
tic and imported. in this country, is
shown To have increased from forty
three million gallons i'm 1910 To seventy
two millions in 1886; and of malt liquors
from twenty-three millions to six hun
dred and forty millions. The consumption
per capita during the same period de
creased. as regards distilled spirits. from
about two and a half gallons to about
one and a quarter gallons; and increased
rs regards Wine, from % of a gallon to
:5s; and of malt liquors from less than
one and half to more than eleven
gallons.
An elaborate statement. made by F. y.
Barret. editor of tke New York Grocer
by request of the chief of bureau is given.
which sets forth, among other things,
that the present average expenditure i'm
this country per annum for malt and
spurious liquors and beer at retail is
500, 900 900. The drinking population
is estimated to BE- lin 1856 1926. All,
making an average expenditure per cap
ita of $3.50.
CONSJ MPTION OF SPIRITS DECREASING.
Mr.. Barrett shows, by covering five
years from 1882 to 1856 inclusive. that
the consumption of spirits is decreasing,
while that of beer IL increasing. and
there is a reduced use of wine as a bev-
erage. During this period, he says,
the consumption of coffee has risen
from So pounds per capita To- 9.11
pounds. Do not these facts show that
the milder stimulants are driving out
their fiery competitors: Is il not due to
the growing of the temperance ques-
tom"
Mr.. Barrett says the wholesale cost of
liquors for which the retailers receive
800. 200 900. is not more than $500 900.
600. He makes a brief calculation of
the cost of liquors as compared with
that of food, clothing and shelter. reach
ing the conclusion that the American
people spend from twelve to seventeen
dollars for the ''necessaries'' named to
every dollar paid out for liquor
pNIN 10 PER CENT FOR MEDICINE AND
MANUFACTURING.
James A. Webb, of New York. fur
nishes a statement to the effect that
only ten per cent of the distilled spirits
consumed in this country are used for
medicine and manufacturing purposes,
ninety per cent. being used as "A bever-
age. From "A table covering the five
wears ending with 1885. il is learned that
the consumption of distilled spirits per
capita has steadily increased in France
from "a of gallon to l-3i: that it has
varied in this country between 1.46 in
| 1888. To- I.24 gallons in 1884 and 1885:
| that the United Kingdom consumes a
little more than a gallon per capita, and
| that the consumption in Germany has
| decreased 20 in 1881. to LII IN 1885,.
| France. during the same period in
creased her wine consumption from IL!
| To- nearly b gallons while this country
and the United Kingdom. beginning
with less than half gallon per head
show slight falling off. In the matter
of beer consumption during this period
| the United States increased her average
| from a little less than ten 10 a little
more than eleven gallons; the United
| Kingdom held her own at about thirty
three gallons and Germany did the same
at about twenty-thoe gallons.